Indicator device



March 1933- J. c. CONN 1,901,346

INDICATOR DEVICE Filed July 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 h 0 a YcJbseP/l C. Conn 64; m //P%ATTORNEYS 4 March 14, 1933. .1. c. CONN INDICATOR DEVICE Filed July 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jbsep/t C. Conn TTORNEYS M 1933- J. c. CONN 1,901,346

INDICATOR DEVICE Filed July 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l6 3 V mvz-znrroa dabfeph C. C 01177,

/ ATTORNEYS March 14, 1933. J, Q cQ NN 1,901,346

- INDICATOR DEVICE Filed July 19, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7o 63 INVENTOR Josfph C. Conn B m Tl'ORNEYs Patented Mar. 14 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT. o I-cE JOSEPH 0. 001m, or BOONTON, NEW JERSEY INDICATOR nnvron v Application filed Jl'uly 19,

slow in operation due to theneed for an erasure with each change and otherwise inade quate under some conditions. In another type of board, wherein the numbers are carried on removable and replaceableplates or similar devices cooperating with suitable holders, errors are likely to occur because of the'multiplicity of loose units employed and the confusion involved in removing one plate or unit and replacing it by another plate or unit bearing a different number or symbol.

In general, quotation boards of the manually operated type, as distinguished from the automatic board, are too slow under some 0011- ditions of operation and, unless the operators are skilled, present the opportunity for frequent errors. Moreover, during active trading, certain types of'non-automatic boards large enough to display the quotations on a considerable number of securities are expensive to use since they require the employment of a number of skilled operators. Accordingly, a further object, among others, of my invention has been to provide a manually operated quotation board which requires no erasing or bodily removal'of one figure to supply another; which presents complete sets or chains of indicator plates in position to be moved accurately and rapidly; and which may be made economically and assembled quickly in a durable and effective compact form. 7

One embodiment of my'invention is described in the following specification and illustrated in the "drawings attached thereto and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation; Figure 2, an end elevation; Figure 3, an enlarged detail in elevation 50 illustrating a group of indicator units in a ings on a blackboard surface are cumbersome,

identify the stock, indicate the dividend there- 1932. Serial No. 623,334.

typical assembly adapted to supply the usual quotationsin respect to a given security;

Figure 4, a' horizontal section on the line Figure 5, a transverse vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6, a longitudinal vertical section showing detailsof'construction of a typical indicator unit; v

Figure 7, a longitudinal horizontal. sec- 9 tion on the line-7 7 of Figure 6;

' Figure 8', a transverse vertical section on the line 88 of Figure 6 Figure 9, an enlarged detail section on the line 99 of Figure 6;

V Figure 10, a transverse vertical section on theline 10-10 of Figure 1; i

Figure 11, an enlarged detail inelevation illustrating a typical form of panel adapted to carry'explanatory matter relating to the data set forth by the indicator units; and

' Figure 12, a transverse horizontal section on the line 1212 of Figure 1. V r

As indicated generally in Figure 1, my im proved quotation board construction includes a. frame comprising horizontal indicator unit supporting members and vertical or upright partition members arranged to form laterally separated compartments in each of which a plurality of independent indicator. units are operatively assembled, and devices for displaying explanatory markings. or indicia in convenient relation thereto. Thus, where I the quotations to be supplied relate to stocks,

for example,' the mechanism for supplying the required data concerning each stock is mounted in a single compartment. The illustrated board shows five tiers of seventeen oompartments each on each side of a central panel, 1 or a number sufficient to supply the usual quotations on 170 different securities. It will be obvious that a board affording a greater or smaller number of compartments canbe provided, as by in creasing or decreasing the number ofcompartments in each tier.

As shown more clearly in Figure 3, each compartment in the illustrated embodiment provides means for mounting a removable panel or the like bearing markings which on and disclose the years high and low quotations, these items being usually supplied in juxtaposed relation to the quotations on each stock. In addition, each compartment also carries twenty separate and independently operable units for indicating the conventional quotation changes as they occur. These are shown as arranged in a stack four units wide and live units high, three units in each horizontal row representing digits and the last unit on the righthand end of each row representing fractions.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, each indicator unit com prises a casing l wit iin which is mounted an endless chain of indicator links 2 carrying markings indicating numerals and joined by connecting links 3. The casing 1 is open at its front end and the indicator links are so arranged and positioned in relation thereto that, when the chain is at rest, the outer or numeral bearing face of one of said indicator links is exposed through said end opening.

he side walls of the casing are held in the desired spaced relation by spacing members 25. Y 1

The chain of indicator links is preferably supported in the casing ,1 in such a way that it may be advanced link by link, by pressing against an end edge of the exposed indicator link, as shown in Figure 6 for example. Means cooperating with the chain supporting means are also provided whereby the chain yieldingly resists turning movement. during the initial portion thereof and thereafter accelerates the turning movement until the suc- V ceeding link reaches exposed position whereupon the chain iscaused to stabilize in said position. To accomplish this mode of operation, the chain of indicator links is supported in casing 1 on suitable carriers mounted in spaced relation between the side walls of said 7 casing.

The rear carrier 10 is similar in construction to said forward carriere' except that, instead of being mounted in bearings which are fixed in relation to the casing 1, the carrier 10 is mounted in such a mannerthat it is yieldingly movable relation thereto and to the fixed bearings of carrier 4 and is, at the same time, rotatable during advancing movement of the chain of indicator plates or links.

Each of the carriers 4t and 10 is supplied with a triangularlv shaped cam 11 having grooved or dwell portions 12 on its outer peripheral surface. Between the cam 11 and the hubs 7 of the respective carriers are relatively reduced cylindrical bearing portions 13. In the case of carrier 1, said portions 13 serve to support the forward end of a sleeve member 14 having slots 15 therein adapted to embrace said cylindrical portions 13. Another sleeve 16 has inner end portions mounted in telescopic sliding engagement with inner end portions of thesleeve 1 1. The outer or rear end of sleeve 16 is provided with slots 17, Figure 6, whlch engage the cylindrical portions 13 of the rear carrier 10 in such a way that during operation said cylindrical portions are slidably supported by said sot. The rear sleeve 16 has a lug 18 and the front sleeve 1 has a lug 19. it tension spring 20 is operatively interposed betweensaid lugs As seen in Figure 7, the sleeve 14 carries a cam roller 21 and the sleeve 16 acam roller continuously and yieldingly riding upon the cams 11 of the respective carriers l and 10. A guide roller 23 mounted on a pin 24:, supported by the opposite sidesof the casing 1 is positioned and arranged to guide and support the combined telescoping seeves 1 1 and 16 at an intermediate portion thereof.

The parts hereinabove described as constituting the illustrated embodiment of apre ferred form of indicator unit normally occupy the relative positions shown in Figures 6 and7. WVhen an operator desires to advance the chain of indicator links, or in other words to remove one numeral from exposed position and display another in its place, he presses against an end of the exposed link, thus causing the carriers 4 and 10 to rotate. During the initial portion of said rotation of the carrier 1, cam 11 displaces the roller 21 rear- Wardly and thus efiects rearward slidingv movement of the sleeve 1 1, which 'in turn tends to impart rearward endwise movement to the sleeve 16 through the tension spring 20. Meanwhile the simultaneous rotation of carrierrlO with carrier 1 causes its cam 11 to displace the roller 22 forwardly whereby the sleeve 16 is urged in adirection opposite to the endwise movement of sleeve 14, and against tension of spring 20, both sleeves in this movement simultaneously tending to elongate the spring 20. n

When the peaks or'edge portions of the triangular cams 11 reach the position of ma:- imum" displacement of their respective cam rollers, the spring 20 is in its maximum extended condition and is tending to return the sleeves to the normal positions shown in Figure ,6. Accordingly, as soon as downward movement of the operators finger has dis placed the exposed link sufficiently to carry the turning movement of the cams 11 beyond the maximum position above referred to, the continued advancing movement of the chain is now expedited by reason of the tendency ful operator can quickly and readily advance the chain of links as above explained for the purpose of exposing any desired link at the openend of the casing 1. The operation is accurate and positive because the yielding detent mechanism tends to limit the extent of chain advance to the length of a single link with ach movement of the operators hand even where unnecessarily strong force is applied. Although the drawings and the fore going text suggest downward movement of the operators hand as normal, it will be clear that the direction of movement of the chain of links may be reversed by pushing upwardly against the lower edge of the exposed link.

In a preferred embodiment of my improved quotation board construction, it is contemplated that each indicator unit shall be a removable independently operable memher with its moving parts so assembledwithin the casing 1 that no portion of one unit can interfere with the intended mode of operation of any adjacent unit. It is also contemplated that any defective or inoperative indicator unit may be conveniently and quickly removed from its position in the stack and replaced by another unit of similar kind.

ln-the typical arrangement of one compartment of units, as shown in Figures 3 and 5, I provide horizontally extending unit supporting members in the form of channels 26 and 27 the flanges of channel 26 being turned upwardly while those of channel 27 1 are turned downwardly. Where there is economy in using uniform shapes a spacing member 28 forms a convenient shim for raisinc; the channel 26 so that the edges of its flanges extend above the level of the upper surface of the web of channel 27. The side members of the casing l are provided at their top and bottom edges with forward notches 29 and rear notches 30. The notches 29 in the lower edges ofv assembled units A, Figure 5, engage or interlock with the edges of the upturning flan es of channel 26 to prevent endwise displacement of the unit, the rear ends of which rest upon the upper 'surfa cc of the web of channel 27. In forming thestack of units represented in Figures 3 and 5, the

bottom row A thereof is inserted in the compartment as above indicated, andwiththe corresponding upper edge notchesin alignment; Rods of a diameter approximately twice thedepth of the notches 29 and 30 are now laid across the row of units Am the upwardly exposed aligned notches thereof, the

length of said rods being substantially equal to the'length of the rowof units. The next row of units B is then positioned upon the bottom row of units A and with the bottom edge notches engaging the rods 31 which now act as splines and afford in eifect interlocking means whereby the B row of units is retained against en'dwise relative movement with respect to the A row of units. This arrange,-

ment is repeated until the requirednumber of'rows of units have been assembled, in the illustrated case, five rows, which form the stack mounted in the compartment shown in Flgure 3.

One form of suitablemeans for releasably locking the stack of units in the described assembled relation in a compartment includes a spring plate 32 provided witha' handle33.

As shown in Figure *5,- the upper edge of plate 32 engages the rear channel 27 while the lower edge of said-plate is swung into engagement vwith the upwardly; exposed aligned rear notches of the top row of units.

At the front end of the stack, I employ another spring plate 34, formed with arearwardly extending top edge portion 35 which engages the channel 26. The lower-edge'of spring plate 34 provides a downwardly .ex-:

tending flangev orridge 36 whichengages a row of aligned front notches 29in the' upp'er" edges of the top row of units, being held in operative position by the resiliency of a spring portion 37 of the plate 34. The plate 34 also forms a convenient mounting if desired for a panel 38 provided with transverse grooves 39 adapted to receive and retain the letters, numerals and the like-40, Figure3.-

As indicated" generally in Figure ,1, a unit supporting frame comprises: pedestals 41 which support a base including an open truss oist having a top chord 42 and enduprights in the form of angles 43 secured thereto and to the pedestals. The .upper endsof the endpieces or angles 43 are connected by tie-rods 45. Intermediate uprights, as the angles '46 and 47, are arranged with their lower ends resting uponthe top chord 42 of the joist, said lower ends being cut away to form shoulders 48 which engage portionsof the upper edges of said chord. The frame also includes a plurality of upright partitions 49' of suitable material such as fibre board or metalif desired supported in spaced relation between the end uprights and the intermediate up rights. Spacing plates 44 rest upon the chord '42 between partitions 49. Notches 50 in the frontand 51 in the rear edges of said partitions form shoulders adapted to receive and support intermediate portions of the channels 26 and 27 In the form of device shown in Figure 1, the channels 26, 26 and 27, 27 exthe lower ends of adjacent tend between the end upright angles 43 at;

one end and intermediate upright angles 47 and between the end upright angles 43 at-the other end and the intermediate upright an-' gles 46. The top end edges of the partitions are also recessed at 52, Figure 2, to accommodate a top locking or stifiening plate 53 which, in the form of apparatus shown in Figure 1, extends from end to end of the device and has its extreme end portion embraced between the upper end portions of the end upright angles 43. The bottom end edges of the partitions are recessed to fit over or straddle the chord 42, Figure5.

It is contemplated that for any given installation of apparatus embodying my invention, the required number of parts cut or otherwise fashioned to proper size may be conveniently and economically delivered to the brokerage office or other intended destination in knocked down condition and there assembled by mechanics ofordinary skill and ability. As shown in Figures 2 to 4 inclusive, the ends of the joist or base are secured to V the end uprights or angles 43 by means of shear pins 54 and to the pedestals 41 by means of suitable bolts or the like 57. The angles 43 are fastened to pedestals 41 by means of bolts 55 extending through blocks 56 and into thewalls of said pedestals. Spac= ers 58 retain the opposed end angles 43 at is to place the horizontal channels each end of'the joist in proper spaced relation, Figure 2.

After the parts thus far described have been assembled as indicated, further rigidity of the whole structure is effected by suitable clamping or tightening means as, for example, bolts 59, Flgure 12, cooperating with nuts '60 and interposed between the intermediate upright angles 46 and 47 These bolts are mounted in blocks 61 seated in notches 62 provided in the opposed inwardly projecting flanges of the angles 46 and 47 respectively. To tighten or clamp the assembly, nuts 60 are turned in a manner to press the angles 46 and 47 outwardly in opposite directions. Where the dimensions of like parts are uniformly accurate, the effect of this adjustment;

and 26, 27 under suflicient longitudinal compression to retain them securely inoperative position and without effecting undue lateral pressure on the units through partitions 49, so that any unit or units may be removed with out slacking off the nuts 60.-

In the centrally disposed space provided between the angles 46 and 47, I mount a removable panel 63, Figures 10 and 11, similar in construction to the panels 38. Figure 5, and having suitable releasable or yiedable fastening means, such as spring pressed balls extending laterally from the panel and engaging longitudinal grooves 71 or the like in the clips 67. The panel 63 is provided with transverse slots 64 adapted to receive and retain removable letters and/or numer als,fas 65, Figure 11. The slots 64 are also adapted to receive removable marking or area defining devices as the U-shaped clips 66 to separate onegroup of letters and/or numerals from an adjacent group of letters and/or numerals. U-shaped trimming clips 67 overlap and conceal the joints between partitions and angle iron flanges adjacent thereto.

From the foregoing description of my improved quotation board construction and the units presents the advantage of interchangeability in case of accident or other disability.

Likewise, where the units are operated independently, and in accordance with my .invent1on,a quotation change may be recorded in respect to any one thereof without accidentally causing a change in respect to any contiguous or adjacent unit.

My improved quotation board construction also presents important advantages over other known types of boards in space economy without sacrificing speed and accuracy of operation or visibility of the quotations under normal lighting or other conditions alfecting visibility. For example, the board shown in Figure 1 and adapted to provide quotations on 170 stocks, bonds, or the like an be effectively embodied in a structure about 16 feet long and 6 feet high above the top chord 42, i. e. in an area of less than 100 square feet, thus achieving a degree of compactness not afforded in other forms of,

boards with 1. In a quotaion board, the combination of a frame including a base, upright partitions supported in spaced relation thereon and horizontal members extending across the space between said partitions, a plurality of indicator units removably mounted one upon another in said space and between adj acent verftically spaced horizontal members with the lowermost of said units resting'upon thelower of said horizontal members, and means for releasably locking said indicator units in operative stacked relation between said vertically spaced members.

2. In a quotation board, the combination of a frame including a base, upright partiions supported in spaced relation thereon and horizontal members extending across the space between said partitions, a plurality of indicator units removably mounted one upon another in said space and between adjacent vertically spaced horizontal members with the lowermost of said units resting upon the lower of said horizontal members, and means upper of said horizontal members and the uppermost of said indicator units for releas ably locking said units in operative stacked relation between said vertically spaced members.

3. In a quotation board, the combination of a frame including abase, upright partitions supported in spaced relation thereon and horizontal members extending across the space between said parti ions, a plurality of indicator units removably mounted one upon another in-said space and between adjacent vertically spaced horizontal members withthe lowermost of said units resting upon the lower of said horizontal. members, means for releasably locking said indicator units in operative stacked relation between said vertically spaced members, and means operavertica units to secure them against relative endwise displacement when assembled in operative stacked relation. or r In quotation board, the combinatlon of a frame including a base, upright partitions supported in spaced. relation thereon and horizontal members extending across th space between said partitions, a plurality of indicator units removably mounted one upon another in said space and between a" cut vertically spaced horizontal members with the lowermost of said units resting upon the lower of said horizontal members, me

.intal members and the uppermost of indicator units for releasably locking 1 uni s in operativestacked relation be verticallv, spaced members, and operatively interposed between said to secure them against relative end- 7 3 stacked relation. 7

In a quotation board, the combination of a fra 1e comprising upright end pieces. ontai members arranged between said end pieces, and spaced upright partitions eng g and supporting spaced portions of said horizontalmembers,

a plurality of indicator units removablymounted in stacks on upon anotherbetween d partitions, and means for clamping said spaced horizontal members with interposed between the upper of said displacement when assembled in opintermediate horizontal membersin operative position between said end pieces. 7

7. In a quotation board,-the combination of'a frame comprising upright endpieces, horizontal members arranged between said; end pieces, and spaced. upright partitions engaging and supporting intermediate spaced portions of said horizontal members, a plurality of indicator units removably mounted in stacks one upon another between sa1ds partitions, and means interposed between a iacent "i'ntermediately positioned parti tions and adapted to clamp said horizontal members inoperative position between said endpieces. i W '8. Aframe for holding a plurality of quotati-on indicator units comprising a horizontal base member, upright end pieces secured ,at the ends thereof, upright partitions supported in spaced relationthereonand each having its'front "and rear edges adapted'to provide vertical ly spaced shoulders, horizontal unit supporting members mounted on said shoulders and extending between said end pieces, and clamping means operatively 'positionedto' retain said horizontal unit supporting; members in position under compression between said upright end pieces.

9. Ari-indicator unit for quotation boards orthe like comprising a casing havlng an opening at one end, a plurality of ln'dicator plates, links connecting said plates to form therewith an endless chain of plates, a forwardly disposed rotatable chain carrier having fixed pivotal connection withsaid cas- I ing and arranged and adapted to expose outer surfaces of saidplates one at a time through said end opening of the casing, arearwardly disposed chain carrier mounted for rotation and linearmovement in. relation to the casing, and yielding meanscooperating with the carriers to retain the chain in operative position thereon.

10. An indicator unit for quotation boards or-tlie like comprising a casing having an opening'at one end, a plurality'of indicator plates, links connecting, said plates to form V therewith an endles chain of platesa'forwardly disposed rotatable chain carrier havinp' fixed pivotal connection wlth sa1d casmp; and arranged and adapted to expose outer surfaces of said'plates one at" a time through said end opening of the casing, a rearwardlyidisposed chain carrier mounted for rotation and linear movement in relation to the casing, and detent means cooperating with the carriers to retain thenryieldingly in position to expose an indicator plate in predetermined relation to the open end of the casing.

11. An indicator unit comprising an end'-' .less chain of indicator plates, two rotatable chain carriers each having peripheral plate,

engaging and supporting; surfaces arranged in equr-angular relation to each other, and a carrier positioning device interposed between and bearing yieldingly against said carriers inopposite directions.

12. An indicator unit comprising an endless chain of indicator plates, two rotatable chain carriers each provided with a cam and having peripheral plate engaging and supporting surfacesarranged in equi-angular relation to each other, a carrier positioning 1o device operatively interposed between said carriers, and cam followers mounted on said positioning device and bearing yieldingly upon said cams. 13. An indicator unit comprising an endless chain of indicator plates, two rotatable chain carriers each having peripheral plate engaging and supporting surfaces arranged in equi-angular relation to each other, and a cam provided with dwell portions and cam follower actuating portions, and a cam follower yieldingly engaging" each of said cams, said cams being so arranged in relation totheir respective carriers that in dwell position ofthe chain, the cam followers engage dwell portions of their respective cams.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 15th day of July, 1932. p 1

JOSEPH C. CONN. 

